

UNCLE IN ENGLAND. 265 



22nd. I had often wished to see the contents 

 of a set of nice little drawers under the book-cases 

 on one side of the library ; at last, to my great 

 satisfaction, I have been allowed to examine the 

 small geological collection which they contain. 

 It consists of specimens of the different series of 

 rocks, accompanied by the organic remains which 

 distinguish them. 



My uncle first shewed us some bits of horn- 

 blende, primary limestone, mica-slate, and granite, 

 as specimens of the inferior order, or ancient pri- 

 mitive rocks, destitute of all organic remains, and 

 having something of a crystalline appearance. 



Next he shewed us the drawers containing the 

 transition or submedial series, including grey 

 wacke, transition limestone, quartz, common slate, 

 and serpentine ; they contain some specimens 

 of the lowest scale of organized beings, such as 

 zoophytes, madrepores, and testacea, but very 

 sparingly, and all different from those now known. 



Then came the medial order, or carboniferous 

 rocks of old red sandstone, mountain limestone, 

 and all the parallel strata of coal, slate-clay, and 

 freestone, which he calls coal measures. He 

 shewed us abundant remains in them of animals, 

 but very few of which have any resemblance to 

 existing species. Some of the limestone or 

 marble specimens were polished on one side, so 

 as to shew their beautiful veins and colours. On 

 several bits of the coal and black slate, I saw the 



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